A Tosa resident since 1991, Christine walks the dog, cooks but avoids housework, writes and reads, and enjoys the company of friends and strangers. Her job takes her around the state, learning about people's health. A Quaker (no, they don't wear blue hats or sell oatmeal or motor oil), she has been known to stand on both sides of the political and philosophic fence at the same time, which is very uncomfortable when you think about it. She writes about pretty much whatever stops in to visit her busy mind at the moment. One reader described her as "incredibly opinionated but not judgmental." That sounds like a good thing to strive for!

During our morning constitutional, Idgy and I meet and greet people who are strangers. Whether they want to be met and greeted or not. We have decided to consider people not yet known to us as potential allies--or at least interesting fodder--and not lurking dangers.

Some random and unscientific observations:

The more spandex and high tech gear, the less likely a bike rider is to acknowledge your existence.

Men are more likely than women to respond if you insist on greeting them when they are pretending not to see you.

Dead body parts disappear faster in Wauwatosa than in the wilds of Brookfield, though you will encounter more critters murdered by humans in Tosa. This does not lend much support to my belief that people are good until proven bad, but life is still better if you think that way. Most of the time.

Today we were delighted to encounter some rarer sorts among the more domestic species. A woman, rather beautiful, was walking through the woods wearing leopard print satin pajamas; a white satin robe, loosely tied; major wrist and ankle weights; and a huge white Three Musketeers hat with mirabou feathers all around the droopy brim. Accompanying her was a tiny older man, neatly and conventionally dressed. I'm not sure who was walking whom, but they may have wondered the same about Idgy and me.

And why, I thought, not? Why not celebrate the day being a character you have imagined instead of the one you've checked out of the costumes-for-fading-into-crowds or the costumes-to-show-you-are-serious,-not-playing, boxes?

Today I'm going to create a job description for the job I want and then try to make it happen. I'm already cheered by the prospect.

Why not enjoy this day with less thought about coloring inside the lines? Nature doesn't, and it's brilliant.

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